US11809113B2 - Drum cartridge for use with a toner cartridge in an image forming apparatus - Google Patents
Drum cartridge for use with a toner cartridge in an image forming apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US11809113B2 US11809113B2 US17/355,551 US202117355551A US11809113B2 US 11809113 B2 US11809113 B2 US 11809113B2 US 202117355551 A US202117355551 A US 202117355551A US 11809113 B2 US11809113 B2 US 11809113B2
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- controller
- drum cartridge
- drum
- image forming
- forming apparatus
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- 230000002159 abnormal effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 208
- 230000015654 memory Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 129
- 230000001186 cumulative effect Effects 0.000 claims description 32
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims 6
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 abstract description 48
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 204
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 57
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 47
- 238000012790 confirmation Methods 0.000 description 26
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 12
- 238000012217 deletion Methods 0.000 description 12
- 230000037430 deletion Effects 0.000 description 12
- 230000002123 temporal effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/55—Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
- G03G15/553—Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
- G03G15/5012—Priority interrupt; Job recovery, e.g. after jamming or malfunction
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/02—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for laying down a uniform charge, e.g. for sensitising; Corona discharge devices
- G03G15/0266—Arrangements for controlling the amount of charge
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
- G03G15/5016—User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
- G03G15/5016—User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console
- G03G15/502—User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/55—Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
- G03G21/1604—Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus
- G03G21/1623—Means to access the interior of the apparatus
- G03G21/1633—Means to access the interior of the apparatus using doors or covers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
- G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
- G03G21/1875—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. lifetime of the cartridge
- G03G21/1878—Electronically readable memory
- G03G21/1889—Electronically readable memory for auto-setting of process parameters, lifetime, usage
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/20—Humidity or temperature control also ozone evacuation; Internal apparatus environment control
- G03G21/206—Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone
Definitions
- aspects of the present disclosures relate to image forming apparatuses.
- An electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as an LED printer is conventionally known.
- This type of image forming apparatus includes a casing and a drum cartridge attachable to and detachable from the casing.
- a conventional image forming apparatus includes a controller in the casing.
- the controller has a drum rotation counter and a life determination unit.
- the drum rotation counter counts a number of rotations of a photosensitive drum.
- the life determination unit determines that the photosensitive drum reached the end of life in a case where the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum counted by the drum rotation counter reached a value corresponding to the end of life of the photosensitive drum.
- the life of the drum cartridge photosensitive drum
- a drum cartridge (a photosensitive member cartridge) also includes one or more chargers.
- the charger is, for example, a scorotron charger and includes charging wire and a metal grid.
- the charger also includes a wire cleaner.
- the wire cleaner is slidable along the charging wire. Dirt on the charging wire can be removed as a user reciprocally moves the wire cleaner along the charging wire.
- in a case an abnormal discharge is detected during printing occurrence of the abnormal discharge is notified to the user and the user is prompted to perform cleaning of the charging wire.
- an image forming apparatus including a drum cartridge and a controller.
- the drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger configured to charge an outer periphery of the photosensitive drum, and a drum cartridge memory storing a life count value being a value relating to life of the drum cartridge and discharge history information being information relating to one or more abnormal discharges of the charger occurred in the past.
- the controller includes a voltage applying circuit configured to apply voltage to the charger, and an abnormal discharge detection circuit configured to detect the abnormal discharge based on a current value of current flowing through the voltage applying circuit.
- the controller is configured to not permit printing in a case where the life count value read from the drum cartridge memory is equal to or more than a first reference value and a number of abnormal discharges which is included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory is equal to or more than a particular threshold value, or to permit printing in a case where the life count value read from the drum cartridge memory is equal to or more than the first reference value but the number of abnormal discharges which is included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory is less than the particular threshold value.
- an image forming apparatus including a casing, a drum cartridge, a controller, and a main memory.
- the drum cartridge is mountable on the casing.
- the main memory stores information relating to the image forming apparatus.
- the drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger and a drum cartridge memory.
- the charger is configured to charge an outer periphery of the photosensitive drum.
- the drum cartridge memory stores information relating to the drum cartridge.
- the controller includes a voltage applying circuit and an abnormal discharge detection circuit.
- the voltage applying circuit is configured to apply voltage to the charger.
- the abnormal discharge detection circuit is configured to detect an abnormal discharge based on a current value of current flowing through the voltage applying circuit.
- the controller executes a storing process, a calculating process, a writing process, a test voltage applying process, a determination process and a deletion process.
- the storing process is a process of storing a detected voltage that is detected from the charger in the main memory at regular intervals.
- the calculating process is a process of, when occurrence of the abnormal discharge is detected by the abnormal discharge detection circuit, reading a first detected voltage from the main memory and calculating, based on the first detected voltage, a reference voltage being lower than the first detected voltage.
- the first detected voltage is a detected voltage that is detected at the charger just before the detection of the occurrence of the abnormal discharge by the abnormal discharge detection circuit.
- the writing process is a process of storing an executed number of a test voltage application in the drum cartridge memory.
- the test voltage applying process is a process of, after calculating the reference voltage, causing the voltage applying circuit to apply, to the charger, a voltage that is lower than an applying voltage that had been applied to the charger when the abnormal discharge detection circuit detected the occurrence of the abnormal discharge.
- the determination process is a process of determining whether or not a detected voltage detected at the charger when the test voltage applying process was executed is equal to or lower than the reference voltage.
- the deletion process is a process of, if it is determined in the determination process that the detected voltage detected at the charger when the test voltage applying process was executed is equal to or lower than the reference voltage, a deleting the executed number from the drum cartridge memory.
- an image forming apparatus including a casing, a drum cartridge, a main memory and a controller.
- the drum cartridge is mountable on the casing.
- the drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger and a drum cartridge memory.
- the charger is configured to charge an outer periphery of the photosensitive drum.
- the drum cartridge memory stores information relating to the drum cartridge.
- the main memory stores information relating to the image forming apparatus.
- the controller includes a voltage applying circuit and an abnormal discharge detection circuit.
- the voltage applying circuit is configured to apply voltage to the charger.
- the abnormal discharge detection circuit is configured to detect an abnormal discharge based on a current value of current flowing through the voltage applying circuit.
- the controller executes an abnormal discharge flag generation process, a test voltage applying process, a voltage determination process and an abnormal discharge flag deletion process.
- the abnormal discharge flag generation process is a process of, when occurrence of the abnormal discharge is detected by the abnormal discharge detection circuit, storing an abnormal discharge flag in the drum cartridge memory.
- the test voltage applying process is a process of, after storing the abnormal discharge flag in the drum cartridge memory, causing the voltage applying circuit to apply a test voltage to the charger.
- the voltage determination process is a process of determining whether or not a detected voltage detected at the charger when the test voltage was applied to the charger is equal to or lower than a particular reference voltage.
- the abnormal discharge flag deletion process is a process of, if it is determined in the voltage determination process that the detected voltage detected at the charger when the test voltage was applied to the charger is equal to or lower than the particular reference voltage, deleting the abnormal discharge flag.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an image forming apparatus.
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus.
- FIG. 3 is a flowchart, according to a first embodiment, illustrating processes to be executed by a controller when a cover is opened and closed in a state where power of the image forming apparatus is on.
- FIG. 4 is a flowchart, according to the first embodiment, illustrating a reading process to be executed by the controller to read information in a drum cartridge memory.
- FIGS. 5 and 6 show a flowchart, according to the first embodiment, illustrating processes to be executed by the controller in a case where an error occurred.
- FIG. 7 is a flowchart, according to a second embodiment, illustrating processes that trigger a cleaning confirmation mode.
- FIGS. 8 and 9 show a flowchart, according to the second embodiment, illustrating details of processes in the cleaning confirmation mode.
- FIG. 10 is a flowchart, according to a third embodiment, illustrating processes that trigger a cleaning confirmation mode.
- FIGS. 11 and 12 show a flowchart, according to the third embodiment, illustrating details of processes in the cleaning confirmation mode.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus 100 .
- the image forming apparatus 100 is an electrophotographic printer. Examples of the image forming apparatus 100 are laser printers and LED printers. As shown in FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus 100 includes a casing 10 , four toner cartridges 20 , a drum cartridge 30 , a fan 40 , a controller 80 and a display 90 .
- the casing 10 includes a box-like main frame 11 and a cover 12 .
- the four toner cartridges 20 , the drum cartridge 30 and the controller 80 are accommodated in an inner space of the main frame 11 of the casing 10 .
- the display 90 is arranged on an outer surface of the main frame 11 .
- the main frame 11 has an opening.
- the cover 12 is swingable between a closed position shown with chain double-dashed lines in FIG. 1 and an open position shown with solid lines in FIG. 1 . In a case where the cover 12 is at the closed position, the opening of the main frame 11 is covered with the cover 12 . In a case where the cover 12 is at the open position, the opening of the main frame 11 is exposed to outside.
- the main frame 11 further includes a sensor 87 configured to detect the movement of the cover 12 between the open position and the closed position. The sensor 87 is electrically connected to the controller 80 .
- Each toner cartridge 20 is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge 30 .
- Each toner cartridge 20 has a body configured to accommodate toner being developer.
- the four toner cartridges 20 respectively accommodate toner of different colors (e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow and black).
- Each toner cartridge 20 also includes a developing roller 21 .
- the developing roller 21 is a cylindrical member extending along a developing axis.
- the developing roller 21 is rotatable about the developing axis.
- Each toner cartridge 20 further includes a toner cartridge memory 22 .
- the toner cartridge memory 22 is a readable and writable storage medium.
- the toner cartridge memory 22 is, for example, a flash ROM or an EEPROM.
- the toner cartridge memory 22 stores, for example, toner cartridge identification information for identifying each toner cartridge 20 and a toner cartridge life information indicating life of the toner cartridge 20 .
- the drum cartridge 30 is attachable to and detachable from the main frame 11 .
- the drum cartridge 30 has four slots 34 for the four toner cartridges 20 .
- the four toner cartridges 20 are inserted in the four respective slots 34 .
- the drum cartridge 30 includes four photosensitive drums 31 , four chargers 32 , and a drum cartridge memory 33 .
- the photosensitive drums 31 are provided to respective slots 34 .
- the photosensitive drums 31 are cylindrical members extending along respective drum axes.
- the photosensitive drums 31 are rotatable about respective drum axes.
- outer peripheries of the photosensitive drums 31 contact outer peripheries of respective developing rollers 21 .
- the toner is supplied from the toner cartridges 20 to the photosensitive drums 31 to form toner images thereon, respectively.
- the toner images respectively formed on the photosensitive drums 31 are transferred onto a printing paper.
- the chargers 32 are provided to respective slots 34 .
- the chargers 32 are devices configured to charge the outer peripheries of respective photosensitive drums 31 .
- the chargers 32 are scorotron chargers each having a wire and a grid.
- An “applying voltage” which will be mentioned later is a voltage that is to be applied to the wire and the grid.
- a “detected voltage” which will be mentioned later is a voltage that is detected from the wire when the applying voltage is applied to the wire and the grid.
- the charger 32 may be of other types such as a charging roller.
- the drum cartridge memory 33 stores pieces of information relating to the drum cartridge 30 .
- the drum cartridge memory 33 stores at least one of drum cartridge identification information for identifying each drum cartridge 33 , one or more life count values, represented by information, relating to life of the drum cartridge 30 , and discharge history information being information relating to abnormal discharges of the chargers 32 occurred in the past.
- the drum cartridge identification information is, for example, a serial number.
- the one or more life count values are at least one of a cumulative number of rotations of the photosensitive drums 31 , a cumulative number of sheets printed using the photosensitive drums 31 , and a cumulative number of dots printed using the photosensitive drums 31 . In the embodiments of the present disclosures, all the three numbers are stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 as the life count values.
- the cumulative number of rotations of the photosensitive drums 31 is a number of rotations that is incremented or decremented, for each drum cartridge 30 identified by the drum cartridge identification information, each time printing is executed.
- the cumulative number of sheets printed using the photosensitive drums 31 is a number of sheets printed that is incremented or decremented, for each drum cartridge 30 , each time printing is executed.
- the cumulative number of dots printed using the photosensitive drums 31 is a number of dots printed that is incremented or decremented, for each drum cartridge 30 , each time printing is executed.
- the discharge history information includes pieces of information that was stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 each time the abnormal discharge was detected by an abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 which will be described later.
- the discharge history information includes a history of the abnormal discharges which is stored in a state where, for each abnormal discharge, a piece of information indicating the fact that the abnormal discharge occurred and the life count values of the drum cartridge 30 at the time the abnormal discharge occurred are associated with each other.
- the fan 40 is driven to rotate by a conventionally known motor.
- the fan 40 draws air within an inner space of the main frame 11 to outside.
- the motor that drives the fan 40 to rotate is electrically connected to the controller 80 .
- the controller 80 includes a processor 81 such as a CPU, a main memory 82 , a voltage applying circuit 83 , and the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 .
- the main memory 82 is a readable and writable storage medium.
- the main memory 82 is, for example, a flash ROM or an EEPROM.
- the main memory 82 may be or may not be included in the controller 80 .
- the main memory 82 stores one or more computer programs for controlling operation of the image forming apparatus 100 .
- the processor 81 executes various processes in accordance with the one or more computer programs stored in the main memory 82 .
- the voltage applying circuit 83 applies the applying voltage to the wires and the grids of the chargers 32 .
- the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detects occurrence of the abnormal discharge based on a current value of current that flows through a transformer of the voltage applying circuit 83 . Specifically, the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detects occurrence of the abnormal discharge when current that is equal to or more than a threshold current value flows through the transformer of the voltage applying circuit 83 which is applying voltage on the wires and the grids. More specifically, the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 is an overcurrent detection circuit.
- the abnormal discharge is a discharge such as a spark discharge that is different from a corona discharge which is a normal discharge.
- the display 90 is electrically connected to the controller 80 .
- the display 90 displays pieces of information relating to operations of the image forming apparatus 100 , errors, alerts and the like based on display data received from the controller 80 .
- FIG. 2 shows electrical connections between the controller 80 and the drum cartridge memory 33 and toner cartridge memories 22 in a state where the drum cartridge 30 to which the toner cartridges 20 are mounted is mounted to the main frame 11 .
- FIG. 2 also shows an electrical connection between the controller 80 and the display 90 and an electrical connection between the controller 80 and the sensor 87 .
- the drum cartridge memory 33 is electrically connected to the controller 80 via one or more conventionally known connectors and/or wirings.
- the processor 81 thereby becomes able to read and write information from and to the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- the toner cartridge memories 22 are also electrically connected to the controller 80 .
- the processor 81 thereby becomes able to read and write information from and to the toner cartridge memories 22 .
- the controller 80 drives conventionally-known motors when executing printing.
- the photosensitive drums 31 and the developing rollers 21 rotate due to the driving forces of these motors.
- the controller 80 also applies voltage to the chargers 32 , and the outer peripheries of the photosensitive drums 31 are thereby charged.
- the controller 80 further causes conventionally-known light source units to emit lights. The lights are irradiated on the outer peripheries of respective photosensitive drums 31 .
- Electrostatic latent images for an image to be printed are thereby formed on the outer peripheries of respective photosensitive drums 31 .
- Toner in the toner cartridges 20 are supplied to the electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drums 31 via respective developing rollers 21 .
- Toner images are thereby formed on the outer peripheries of the photosensitive drums 31 . Thereafter, a printing paper is conveyed between the photosensitive drums 31 and a conventionally-known transfer belt. The toner images are thereby transferred from the outer peripheries of the photosensitive drums 31 to the printing paper. The printing paper on which the toner images are transferred is conveyed to a conventionally-known fixing unit of the image forming apparatus 100 . The toner images transferred to the printing paper is thereby thermally fixed on the printing paper. As a result, an image is printed on the printing paper.
- the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 is not limited to the one described above.
- a plurality of drum cartridges each drum cartridge to which one toner cartridge is mounted, may be mounted to the casing 10 .
- the drum cartridge to which one toner cartridge is mounted includes one photosensitive drum and one charger.
- a toner cartridge which does not include a developing roller may be used.
- a developing roller may be provided to a drum cartridge.
- the processor 81 executes a reading process, a discharge interval determination process, a discharge history information updating process, a first determination process, a second determination process, a cleaning request displaying process, a drum cartridge replacement request displaying process and a printing non-permission process which will be described later.
- FIG. 3 shows, with a flow chart, a flow of processes to be executed by the controller 80 for causing the image forming apparatus 100 to standby for printing.
- the controller 80 determines whether the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is on (Step S 1 ) and whether the cover 12 of the casing 10 is opened and closed (Step S 2 ).
- Step S 3 the controller 80 executes a reading process for reading information in the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- the controller reads pieces of information stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- the controller 80 determines whether a usage non-permission flag which will be described later is on (Step S 4 ).
- the usage non-permission flag is information that is to be stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 at Step S 49 or Step S 52 which will be described later.
- Step S 4 the controller 80 switches the image forming apparatus 100 into a “not ready (printing not permitted)” state. That is, the controller 80 switches the image forming apparatus 100 into a state that does not accept print requests (print jobs).
- Step S 4 the controller 80 switches the image forming apparatus 100 into a “ready (waiting for request)” state. That is, the controller 80 switches the image forming apparatus 100 into a state for waiting print requests and causes the image forming apparatus 100 to standby for printing.
- FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the reading process of the information in the drum cartridge memory 33 to be executed by the controller 80 .
- the controller 80 reads the cumulative number of sheets printed using the photosensitive drums 31 from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 31 ). Then, the controller 80 reads the cumulative number of rotations of the photosensitive drums 31 from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 32 ). Then, the controller 80 reads the discharge history information of the charger 32 from the drum cartridge memory 80 (Step S 33 ). Then, the controller 80 reads information indicating whether the usage non-permission flag is on or off from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 34 ).
- the controller 80 can switch the status of the image forming apparatus 100 between the state where printing is allowed and the state where printing is not permitted based on the information indicating whether the usage non-permission flag is on or off that is read from the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- FIGS. 5 and 6 show a flowchart illustrating processes to be executed by the controller 80 in a case where an error is detected.
- the controller 80 In a case where the controller 80 detects occurrence of some kind of an error based on signals from sensors or the like that are electrically connected to the controller 80 , the controller 80 stops driving the motors and causes the image forming apparatus 100 to stop printing (Step S 41 ).
- the controller 80 determines whether or not the detected error is the abnormal discharge based on the detection result by the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 (Step S 42 ). Specifically, the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detects the abnormal discharge in a case where the current value of the current flowing through the transformer of the voltage applying circuit 83 exceeds a threshold value. The controller determines that the detected error is the abnormal discharge in a case where the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detects the abnormal discharge. The controller determines that the detected error is an error other than the abnormal discharge in a case where the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 do not detect the abnormal discharge.
- Step S 42 the controller 80 displays a message on the display 90 in accordance with a type of the detected error.
- Step S 42 the controller 80 reads the discharge history information from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 44 ).
- Step S 44 the controller 80 further reads the life count values at the time the current error occurred from the drum cartridge memory 33 . Specifically, the controller 80 reads the cumulative number of rotations of the photosensitive drums 31 , the cumulative number of sheets printed using the photosensitive drums 31 , or the cumulative number of dots printed using the photosensitive drums 31 from the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- the controller 80 After reading the discharge history information from the drum cartridge memory 33 , the controller 80 reads the life count values at the time the current error occurred from the drum cartridge memory 33 . The controller 80 determines whether differences between the life count values (i.e., the cumulative number of rotations of the photosensitive drums 31 , the cumulative number of sheets printed using the photosensitive drums 31 , and the cumulative number of dots printed using the photosensitive drums 31 ), included in the discharge history information, at the time a previous abnormal discharge occurred and the life count values, read from the drum cartridge memory 33 , at the time the current abnormal discharge occurred are equal to more than particular values, the particular values being set for each of the cumulative number of rotations of the photosensitive drums 31 , the cumulative number of sheets printed using the photosensitive drums 31 , and the cumulative number of dots printed using the photosensitive drums 31 (Step S 45 : discharge interval determination process).
- the life count values i.e., the cumulative number of rotations of the photosensitive drums 31 , the cumulative number of sheets printed using the photosensitive drum
- Step S 45 the controller 80 does not add information relating to the current abnormal discharge to the discharge history information stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 and executes Step S 46 (cleaning request displaying process). That is, in a case where the interval between the abnormal discharges is short, since it is likely that a user did not perform cleaning of the chargers 32 or that the cleaning was insufficient, the controller 80 does not regard the current abnormal discharge as a newly occurred error.
- the controller 80 causes the display 90 to display a message prompting the user to perform cleaning of the chargers 32 (more specifically, the wires of the chargers 32 ).
- the controller 80 may also cause the display 90 to display, for example, an illustration showing a method for cleaning the wires.
- Step S 45 the controller 80 executes Step S 47 (discharge history information updating process).
- the controller 80 writes, on the drum cartridge memory 33 , information indicating the fact that the abnormal discharge occurred and the life count values of the drum cartridge 30 at the time the current abnormal discharge occurred while associating these pieces of information with each other. That is, in a case where the interval between the abnormal discharges is not short, since it is likely that the abnormal discharge occurred not because a user did not perform cleaning of the chargers 32 or that the cleaning was insufficient but because of other factors, the controller 80 stores information relating to the current abnormal discharge in the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- the controller 80 executes a first determination process (Step S 48 ).
- the controller 80 determines whether or not a number of abnormal discharges, detected by the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 after it is determined by the controller 80 that the life count values read from the drum cartridge memory 33 reaches second reference values being greater than first reference values, is equal to or more than a first threshold value.
- the “first reference values” are, for example, the life count values corresponding to a time for replacement of the drum cartridge 30 .
- the “second reference values” are, for example, twice the life count values corresponding to the time for replacement of the drum cartridge 30 .
- the “first threshold value” is, for example, one.
- the controller 80 determines whether or not the abnormal discharge occurred for equal to more than the first threshold number (e.g., once) after the life count values of the drum cartridge 30 reaches the second reference values (e.g., twice the life count values corresponding to the time for replacement of the drum cartridge 30 ) being greater than the first reference values (e.g., the life count values corresponding to the time for replacement of the drum cartridge 30 ).
- Step S 48 the controller 80 sets the usage non-permission flag to “ON” (Step S 49 ).
- Step S 49 in a case where the abnormal discharge occurred for equal to more than the first threshold number (e.g., once) after the life count values of the drum cartridge 30 reaches the second reference values (e.g., twice the life count values corresponding to the time for replacement of the drum cartridge 30 ) being greater than the first reference values (e.g., the count values corresponding to the time for replacement of the drum cartridge 30 ), the controller 80 sets the usage non-permission flag to “ON” to not permit subsequent printing. Specifically, the controller 80 stores information indicating that the usage non-permission flag is “ON” in the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- Step S 50 the controller 80 executes a drum cartridge replacement request displaying process (Step S 50 ). Specifically, in the drum cartridge replacement request displaying process, the controller 80 causes the display 90 to display a message prompting a user to replace the drum cartridge 30 . In the drum cartridge replacement request displaying process, the controller 80 may also cause the display 90 to display, for example, an illustration showing a method for replacing the drum cartridge 30 .
- Step S 48 NO
- the controller 80 executes a second determination process (Step S 51 ).
- the controller 80 determines whether or not the number of abnormal discharges, detected by the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 after it is determined by the controller 80 that the life count values read from the drum cartridge memory 33 reaches the first reference values, is equal to or more than a second threshold value.
- the “first reference values” are, for example, the life count values corresponding to a time for replacement of the drum cartridge 30 (i.e., life of the drum cartridge).
- the “second threshold value” is a value that is greater than the first threshold value and is, for example, two.
- the controller 80 determines whether or not the abnormal discharge occurred for equal to more than the second threshold number (e.g., twice) after the life count values of the drum cartridge 30 reaches the first reference values (e.g., the count values corresponding to the life of the drum cartridge 30 ).
- the second threshold number e.g., twice
- the first reference values e.g., the count values corresponding to the life of the drum cartridge 30 .
- Step S 51 NO
- the controller 80 executes the cleaning request displaying process for causing the display 90 to display the message prompting a user to perform cleaning of the charger (Step S 46 ).
- Step S 51 the controller 80 sets the usage non-permission flag to “ON” (Step S 52 ).
- Step S 52 in a case where the abnormal discharge occurred for equal to more than the second threshold number (e.g., twice) after the life count values of the drum cartridge 30 reaches the first reference values (e.g., the count values corresponding to the life of the drum cartridge 30 ), the controller 80 sets the usage non-permission flag to “ON” to not permit subsequent printing. Specifically, the controller 80 stores the information indicating that the usage non-permission flag is “ON” in the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- the second threshold number e.g., twice
- Step S 53 the controller executes a drum cartridge replacement request displaying process. Specifically, in the drum cartridge replacement request displaying process, the controller 80 causes the display 90 to display a message prompting a user to replace the drum cartridge 30 . In the drum cartridge replacement request displaying process, the controller 80 may also cause the display 90 to display, for example, an illustration showing a method for replacing the drum cartridge 30 .
- the image forming apparatus 100 of the first embodiment includes the drum cartridge 30 and the controller 80 .
- the controller 80 includes the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 .
- the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detects occurrence of the abnormal discharge, in a case where the life count values read from the drum cartridge memory 33 reaches the first reference value and the number of abnormal discharges, included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory 33 is equal to or more than a particular threshold value (Step S 51 : YES), the controller 80 does not permit printing.
- Step S 51 NO
- the controller 80 permits printing. Therefore, even after the drum cartridge 30 reaches the end of life, the drum cartridge 30 can be used for printing unless the discharge history information satisfies a particular condition. Also, the controller 80 reads the life count values and the discharge history information from the drum cartridge memory 33 and determines, based on these pieces of information, whether to permit printing using the drum cartridge 30 . As a result, the drum cartridge 30 can be monitored appropriately even in a case where the drum cartridge 30 that was used in one image forming apparatus 100 is mounted to another image forming apparatus 100 .
- the image forming apparatus 100 of the first embodiment further includes the display 90 .
- the controller 80 executes the discharge interval determination process (Step S 45 ) of determining whether the differences between the life count values, read from the drum cartridge memory 33 , at the time the current abnormal discharge occurred and the life count values, included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory 33 , at the time the previous abnormal discharge occurred are equal to more than particular values that are set for each of the cumulative number of rotations of the photosensitive drums 31 , the cumulative number of sheets printed using the photosensitive drums 31 , and the cumulative number of dots printed using the photosensitive drums 31 (Step S 45 : discharge interval determination process).
- the controller 80 executes the cleaning request displaying process (Step S 46 ) of causing the display 90 to display the message prompting a user to perform cleaning of the chargers 32 .
- the differences between the life count values at the time the previous abnormal discharge occurred and those at the time the current abnormal discharge occurred are less than the particular values (Step S 45 : NO)
- the controller 80 can execute the discharge history updating process (Step S 47 ) of storing information indicating the fact that the abnormal discharge occurred and the life count values at the time the current abnormal discharge occurred in the drum cartridge memory 33 as the discharge history information in a case where it is determined in the discharge interval determination process that the differences between the life count values, read from the drum cartridge memory 33 , at the time the current abnormal discharge occurred and the life count values, included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory 33 , at the time the previous abnormal discharged occurred are equal to more than particular values.
- the drum cartridge 30 can be monitored appropriately by storing the information relating to the current abnormal discharge in the drum cartridge memory 33 as the discharge history information.
- the controller 80 can execute the first determination process (Step S 48 ) of determining whether or not the number of abnormal discharges, detected by the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 after it is determined by the controller 80 that the life count values read from the drum cartridge memory 33 reaches the second reference values being greater than the first reference values, is equal to or more than the first threshold value.
- Step S 48 If it is determined by the controller 80 in the first determination process that the number of abnormal discharges, detected by the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 after it is determined by the controller 80 that the life count values reaches second reference values, is equal to or more than the first threshold value (Step S 48 : YES), the controller 80 can execute a printing non-permission process (Step S 49 and Step S 6 ) of not permitting printing using the drum cartridge 30 .
- the controller 80 is capable of not permitting printing using the drum cartridge 30 . Therefore, the drum cartridge 30 can be monitored appropriately.
- the controller 80 can execute the second determination process (Step S 51 ) of determining whether or not the number of abnormal discharges, detected by the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 after it is determined by the controller 80 that the life count values reaches the first reference values, is equal to or more than the second threshold value in a case where it is determined by the controller 80 in the first determination process (Step S 48 ) that the number of abnormal discharges, detected by the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 after it is determined by the controller 80 that the life count values reaches second reference values being greater than the first reference values, is less than the first threshold value.
- the controller 80 can execute the printing non-permission process (Step S 52 and Step S 6 ) of not permitting printing using the drum cartridge 30 in a case where it is determined by the controller 80 in the second determination process (Step S 51 ) that the number of abnormal discharges, detected by the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 after it is determined by the controller 80 that the life count values reaches the first reference values, is equal to or more than the second threshold value.
- the controller 80 is capable of not permitting printing using the drum cartridge 30 in a case where the abnormal discharge occurred for equal to more than the second threshold number (e.g., twice) after the life count values of the drum cartridge 30 reaches the first reference values (e.g., the life count values corresponding to the life of the drum cartridge 30 ). Therefore, the drum cartridge 30 can be monitored appropriately.
- the second reference value is greater than the first reference value.
- the life count values (the cumulative number of rotations of the photosensitive drums 31 , the cumulative number of sheets printed using the photosensitive drums 31 , and the cumulative number of dots printed using the photosensitive drums 31 ) are incremented each time printing is executed.
- the life count values may be decremented each time printing is executed.
- the first reference value in the above-described first embodiment needs to be made greater than the second reference value.
- the discharge history information may include pieces of information of all the abnormal discharges occurred in the past, or the controller 80 may delete pieces of information of old abnormal discharges.
- the controller 80 may delete pieces of information of the abnormal discharges that occurred before the life count values of the drum cartridge 30 reach the first references value and that do not correspond to the last abnormal discharge.
- the second reference values are twice the life count values corresponding to the time for replacement of the drum cartridge 30 .
- the second reference values only need to be values that are equal to or more than the life count values corresponding to the time for replacement of the drum cartridge 30 .
- the processor 81 executes a storing process, a calculating process, a writing process, a test voltage applying process, a voltage determination process, a deletion process, an error displaying process and a fan rotating process which will be described later.
- FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processes that trigger the cleaning confirmation mode.
- the voltage applying circuit 83 applies an applying voltage to the wires and the grids of respective chargers 32 corresponding to respective colors (i.e., respective toner cartridges 20 ) (Step S 201 ). While applying the applying voltage to the wires and the grids of the chargers using the voltage applying circuit 83 , the controller 83 stores temporal changes of voltages detected at the wires of the chargers 32 in the main memory 82 (Step S 202 : storing process). At this time, the controller stores the temporal change of the voltage detected at the charger 32 for each color (i.e., for each toner cartridge). Specifically, the controller 80 stores the voltages detected at the wires of the chargers 32 in the main memory 82 at regular intervals (e.g., at 1 msec intervals).
- the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detects occurrence of the abnormal discharge based on a current value of current that flows through a transformer of the voltage applying circuit 83 (Step S 203 ). Specifically, the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detects occurrence of the abnormal discharge in a case where current that is equal to or more than a threshold current value flows through the transformer of the voltage applying circuit 83 which is applying voltage on the wires and the grids.
- the controller 80 determines that the abnormal discharge occurred in a case where the abnormal discharge was detected in one or more colors (Step S 203 : YES). In a case where it is not determined that the abnormal discharge was detected in one or more colors (Step S 203 : NO), the controller 80 repeats Step S 203 .
- Step S 203 the controller 80 causes the display 90 to display a message indicating that the abnormal discharge occurred (Step S 204 : error displaying process).
- the message which the controller 80 causes the display 90 to display is a message that prompts a user to perform cleaning of the wires of the chargers 32 for all the four colors.
- the message which the controller 80 causes the display 90 to display may be a message that prompts a user to perform cleaning of one or more wires of one or more chargers 32 in which the abnormal discharge occurred.
- the controller 80 executes the calculating process (Step S 205 ).
- the controller 80 reads first detected voltages from the main memory 82 .
- the first detected voltages are voltages that are detected at the wires of the chargers 32 just before the detection of the occurrence of the abnormal discharge by the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 .
- the controller 80 reads the voltages that were detected at the wires of the chargers 32 a particular time period before the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detected the occurrence of the abnormal discharge as the first detected voltages.
- the controller 80 further calculates, based on the first detected voltages, a reference voltage being lower than the first detected voltages.
- the reference voltage is a voltage that is to be used in the test voltage applying process which will be described later.
- Step S 206 the controller 80 stores the reference voltage in the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 206 : writing process).
- the controller 80 further stores a preset value (e.g., three) in the drum cartridge memory 33 as an upper limit of an executed number, the executed number indicating a number of times the test voltage applying process which will be described later is executed.
- the controller 80 further reads the first detected voltages from the main memory 82 and stores in the drum cartridge memory 33 . Then, the controller 80 executes the cleaning confirmation mode (Step S 207 ).
- FIGS. 8 and 9 show a flowchart illustrating processes in the cleaning confirmation mode.
- the controller 80 firstly determines whether the sensor 87 detected the movement of the cover 12 from the open position to the closed position (Step S 271 ). In a case where it is determined that the sensor 87 does not detect the movement of the cover 12 from the open position to the closed position (Step S 271 : NO), the controller 80 repeats the determination process of Step S 271 . On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the sensor 87 detects the movement of the cover 12 from the open position to the closed position (Step S 271 : YES), the controller 80 causes the display 90 to stop displaying the message that is displayed at Step S 204 (Step S 272 ).
- the controller 80 reads the executed number from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 273 ).
- the controller 80 may execute Step S 273 in a case where the sensor 87 detects the movement of the cover 12 from the open position to the closed position after the image forming apparatus 100 is switched on.
- the controller 80 determines whether or not the executed number is greater than zero (Step S 274 ). In a case where it is determined that the executed number is not greater than zero (Step S 274 : NO), the controller 80 terminates the cleaning confirmation mode.
- Step S 274 the controller 80 reads the reference voltage from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 275 ) and causes the fan 40 to rotate for a first particular amount of time (Step S 276 ). At least a portion of the air in the inner space of the main frame 11 is thereby drawn to outside.
- the controller 80 executes the test voltage applying process (Step S 277 ).
- the controller 80 applies, to the wires and the grids of the chargers 32 using the voltage applying circuit 83 , a voltage that is lower than the applying voltage that had been applied to the wires and the grids of the chargers 32 in a case where the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detects the occurrence of the abnormal discharge.
- the controller 80 executes the test voltage applying process for all the chargers (i.e., all the colors) of which the first detected voltages exceeds a particular value.
- the controller 80 determines whether detected voltages, detected at the wires of the chargers 32 in a case where the voltage applying circuit 83 applied the voltage that is lower than the applying voltage that is applied to the wires and the grids of the chargers 32 in a case where the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detected the occurrence of the abnormal discharge to the wires and the grids of the chargers 32 , are equal to or lower than the reference voltage (Step S 278 : voltage determination process). Specifically, in the voltage determination process, the controller 80 determines whether or not the detected voltage is equal to or less than the reference voltage for all the chargers (i.e., all the colors) to which the test voltage applying process is executed.
- Step S 278 determines whether the detected voltages are equal to or less than the reference voltage.
- the controller 80 deletes the reference voltage from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 283 : Deletion process).
- the controller 80 further deletes the executed number from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 284 : deletion process). Then, the controller 80 terminates the cleaning confirmation mode.
- Step S 278 determines whether or not the executed number is greater than 1.
- Step S 282 the controller 84 causes the fan 40 to rotate for a second particular amount of time (Step S 282 ).
- the second particular amount of time for causing the fan 40 to rotate is preferably longer than the first particular amount of time for causing the fan 40 to rotate at Step S 276 . Therefore, at least most of the air in the inner space of the main frame 11 is thereby drawn to outside.
- the controller 80 After causing the fan 40 to rotate for the second particular amount of time, the controller 80 deletes the reference voltage from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 283 : deletion process). The controller 80 further deletes the executed number from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 284 : deletion process). Then, the controller 80 terminates the cleaning confirmation mode.
- Step S 279 the controller 80 causes the display 90 to redisplay the message indicating that the abnormal discharge occurred (Step S 280 : error displaying process).
- Step S 281 may be a process of incrementing the executed number by one. That is, the controller 80 stores the executed number which is incremented or decremented by one in the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- Step S 281 is a process of incrementing the executed number by one
- Steps S 206 , S 274 and S 279 described above may for example be modified as follows.
- Step S 206 the controller 80 may set the executed number to zero.
- Step S 274 the controller 80 may determine whether the executed number is less than the preset value.
- Step S 279 the controller 80 may determine whether the executed number is less than a value obtained by subtracting one from the preset value.
- Step S 281 the controller 80 goes back to the determination process at Step S 271 .
- the image forming apparatus 100 of the second embodiment includes the casing 10 , the drum cartridge 30 , the controller 80 and the main memory 82 .
- the drum cartridge 30 includes the photosensitive drums 31 , the chargers 32 and the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- the controller 80 includes the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 and the voltage applying circuit 83 .
- the controller 80 executes the storing process (Step S 202 ), the calculating process (Step S 205 ), the writing process (Step S 206 ), the test voltage applying process (Step S 277 ), the determination process (Step S 278 ) and the deletion process (Steps S 283 and S 284 ).
- the controller 80 can determine whether the abnormal discharge has ever occurred in the drum cartridge 30 or whether the abnormal discharge state can be released by referring to the executed number.
- Step S 277 in a case where it is determined as a result of the test voltage applying process (Step S 277 ) that the detected voltages detected at the wires of the chargers 32 are higher than the reference voltage (Step S 278 : NO), the controller 80 executes the error displaying process again (Step S 280 ).
- Step S 280 it becomes possible to prompt a user to perform cleaning of the chargers 32 and presume whether or not the cleaning of the chargers 32 was performed correctly.
- the controller 80 increments or decrements the executed number and repeats the error displaying process (Step S 280 ), the test voltage applying process (Step S 277 ) and the determination process (Step S 278 ) until it is determined in the determination process that the detected voltages detected at the wires of the chargers 32 are equal to or less than the reference voltage or until the executed number reaches the preset value.
- the image forming apparatus 100 of the second embodiment includes the fan 40 .
- the controller 80 executes the fan rotating process (Step S 282 ) of rotating the fan 40 for the particular period of time in a case where the executed number reaches the preset value.
- the air in the image forming apparatus 100 can be drawn to outside by rotating the fan 40 for the particular period of time. Therefore, even in a case where a user cleaned the inside of the image forming apparatus 100 using flammable gas or the like, the flammable gas or the like can be drawn out of the image forming apparatus 100 by the fan 40 .
- the discharge history information may include pieces of information of all the abnormal discharges occurred in the past, or the controller 80 may delete old pieces of information of the abnormal discharges one by one.
- the upper limit of the executed number (i.e., the preset value) has been described to be three.
- the upper limit of the executed number may be two or equal to or more than four.
- the processor 81 executes an abnormal discharge flag generation process, a test voltage applying process, a voltage determination process, an abnormal discharge flag deletion process and an error displaying process which will be described later.
- FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processes that triggers the cleaning confirmation mode.
- the voltage applying circuit 83 applies an applying voltage to the wires and the grids of respective chargers 32 (Step S 301 ). While applying the applying voltage to the wires and the grids of the chargers using the voltage applying circuit 83 , the controller 83 stores temporal changes of voltages detected at the wires of the chargers 32 in the main memory 82 (Step S 302 : storing process). At this time, the controller stores the temporal change of the voltage detected at the charger 32 for each color (i.e., for each toner cartridge). Specifically, the controller 80 stores the voltages detected at the wires of the chargers 32 in the main memory 82 at regular intervals (e.g., at 1 msec intervals).
- the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detects occurrence of the abnormal discharge based on a current value of current that flows through a transformer of the voltage applying circuit 83 (Step S 303 ). Specifically, the abnormal discharge detection circuit 84 detects occurrence of the abnormal discharge when current that is equal to or more than a threshold current value flows through the transformer of the voltage applying circuit 83 which is applying voltage on the wires and the grids.
- the controller 80 determines that the abnormal discharge occurred in a case where the abnormal discharge was detected in one or more colors (Step S 303 : YES). In a case where no abnormal discharge was detected in any colors (Step S 303 : NO), the controller 80 repeats Step S 303 .
- Step S 303 the controller 80 causes the display 90 to display a message indicating that the abnormal discharge occurred (Step S 304 : error displaying process).
- the message which the controller 80 causes the display 90 to display is a message that prompts a user to perform cleaning of the wires of the chargers 32 for all the four colors.
- the message which the controller 80 causes the display 90 to display may be a message that prompts a user to perform cleaning of one or more wires of one or more chargers 32 in which the abnormal discharge occurred.
- the controller generates an abnormal discharge flag and stores the generated abnormal discharge flag in the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 305 : abnormal discharge flag generation process).
- the controller 80 initializes an executed number stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 to a default value (Step S 306 ).
- the executed number is a value that indicates the number of times the test voltage applying process is executed.
- the executed number is incremented each time the test voltage applying process is executed, and the number of times the test voltage applying process was executed is monitored by determining whether or not the executed number reached a preset value. Therefore, in the third embodiment the default value is one.
- the controller 80 executes the cleaning confirmation mode (Step S 307 ).
- FIGS. 11 and 12 show a flowchart illustrating processes in the cleaning confirmation mode.
- the controller 80 firstly determines whether the sensor 87 detects the movement of the cover 12 from the open position to the closed position (Step S 361 ). In a case where it is determined that the sensor 87 does not detect the movement of the cover 12 from the open position to the closed position (Step S 361 : NO), the controller 80 repeats the determination process of Step S 361 . On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the sensor 87 detected the movement of the cover 12 from the open position to the closed position (Step S 371 : YES), the controller 80 causes the display 90 to stop displaying the message that was displayed at Step S 304 (Step S 362 ). Then, the controller 80 reads the abnormal discharge flag from the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 363 ).
- the controller 80 may execute Step S 363 in a case where, after the image forming apparatus 100 is switched on, the controller 80 initializes the executed number stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 to the default value and the sensor 87 detects the movement of the cover 12 from the open position to the closed position.
- Step S 364 the controller 80 determines whether or not the abnormal discharge flag indicates that the abnormal discharge occurred. In a case where it is determined that the abnormal discharge flag does not indicate that the abnormal discharge occurred (Step S 364 : NO), the controller 80 terminates the cleaning confirmation mode.
- the controller 80 reads a reference voltage from the main memory 82 (Step S 365 ).
- the reference voltage is a voltage that is to be used in the test voltage applying process which will be described later.
- the reference voltage is lower than voltages that are detected at the chargers 32 when charging the outer peripheries of the photosensitive drum 31 using the chargers 32 , and is stored in the main memory 82 .
- the controller 80 After reading the reference voltage, the controller 80 causes the fan 40 to rotate for a first particular amount of time (Step S 366 ). After causing the fan 40 to rotate for the first particular amount of time, the controller 80 executes a test voltage reading process (Step S 367 ). In the test voltage reading process, the controller 80 reads the test voltage to be used in the test voltage applying process which will be described later from the main memory 82 . The test voltage is lower than the voltages to be applied to the wires and the grids of the chargers 32 when charging the outer peripheries of the photosensitive drum 31 using the chargers 32 , and is stored in the main memory 82 .
- the controller 80 After reading the test voltage from the main memory 82 , the controller 80 executes the test voltage applying process (Step S 368 ). In the test voltage applying process, the controller 80 applies the test voltage to the grids of the chargers 32 using the voltage applying circuit 83 . The controller executes the test voltage applying process for all the colors (i.e., all the chargers 32 ) in which the abnormal discharge occurred.
- Step S 369 voltage determination process. The controller 80 determines whether the detected voltage is equal to or less than the reference voltage for all the colors for which the test voltage applying process is executed.
- Step S 369 the controller 80 initializes the executed number stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 to the default value (Step S 374 ).
- the controller 80 further deletes the abnormal discharge flag stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 375 ). Upon deleting the abnormal discharge flag, the controller 80 terminates the cleaning confirmation mode.
- Step S 370 the controller 80 determines whether the executed number reaches a preset value (e.g., three) being set in advance as an upper limit of the number of times to execute the test voltage applying process.
- the executed number is a value that indicates the number of times the test voltage applying process is executed and is incremented at Step S 372 which will be described later each time the test voltage applying process is executed.
- Step S 370 the controller 80 causes the fan 40 to rotate for a second particular amount of time (Step S 373 ).
- the second particular amount of time for causing the fan 40 to rotate is preferably longer than the first particular amount of time for causing the fan 40 to rotate at Step S 363 . Therefore, at least most of the air in the inner space of the main frame 11 is thereby drawn to outside.
- the controller 80 After causing the fan 40 to rotate for the second particular amount of time, the controller 80 initializes the executed number stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 to the default value (Step S 374 ). The controller further deletes the abnormal discharge flag stored in the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 375 ). Upon deleting the abnormal discharge flag, the controller 80 terminates the cleaning confirmation mode.
- Step S 370 the controller 80 causes the display 90 to redisplay the message indicating that the abnormal discharge occurred (Step S 371 : error displaying process).
- the controller 80 increments the executed number and stores the incremented executed number in the drum cartridge memory 33 (Step S 372 ).
- Step S 372 the controller 80 goes back to the determination process at Step S 361 .
- the image forming apparatus 100 of the third embodiment includes the casing 10 , the drum cartridge 30 , the main memory 82 and the controller 80 .
- the drum cartridge 30 includes the photosensitive drums 31 , the chargers 32 and the drum cartridge memory 33 .
- the controller 80 executes the abnormal discharge flag generation process (Step S 305 ), the test voltage applying process (Step S 368 ), the voltage determination process (Step S 369 ) and the abnormal discharge flag deletion process (Step S 375 ).
- the controller 80 can determine whether the abnormal discharge has ever occurred in the drum cartridge 30 or whether the abnormal discharge state can be released by referring to the abnormal discharge flag.
- the main memory 82 stores the reference voltage which is lower than the voltages that are detected at the chargers 32 when charging the outer peripheries of the photosensitive drum 31 using the chargers 32 . Therefore, it is not necessary to calculate the reference voltage each time the abnormal discharge is detected. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce load on the controller 80 .
- the controller 80 repeats the process of determining whether the detected voltages being detected at the chargers 32 in a case where the test voltage is applied to the chargers 32 are equal to or less than the reference voltage until the executed number reaches the preset value.
- the image forming apparatus 100 of the third embodiment further includes the fan 40 .
- the controller 80 causes the fan 40 to rotate for the particular period of time if the executed number reached the preset value.
- the air in the image forming apparatus 100 can be drawn to outside by rotating the fan 40 for the particular period of time in a case where it cannot be presumed that the cleaning is performed correctly although the test voltage applying process was repeated for the preset number of times. Therefore, even in a case where a user cleaned the inside of the image forming apparatus 100 using flammable gas or the like, the flammable gas or the like can be drawn out of the image forming apparatus 100 by the fan 40 .
- the image forming apparatus 100 of the third embodiment further includes the display 90 .
- the controller 80 further executes the error displaying process of causing the display 90 to display the error message.
- the executed number is incremented at Step S 372 each time the test voltage applying process is executed.
- the executed number may be decremented.
- the default value in the above-described third embodiment should be set to the preset value and it should be determined in Step S 370 whether or not the executed number is greater than one.
- the discharge history information may include pieces of information of all the abnormal discharges occurred in the past, or the controller 80 may delete old pieces of information of the abnormal discharges one by one.
- the upper limit of the executed number (i.e., the preset value) has been described to be three.
- the upper limit of the executed number may be two or equal to or more than four.
Abstract
Description
Claims (13)
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US20210096493A1 (en) | 2021-04-01 |
US11092920B2 (en) | 2021-08-17 |
US20210318649A1 (en) | 2021-10-14 |
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